Raila to issue Grand statement in Parliament

July 7, 2008 12:00 am

Shares

By ANTHONY KAGIRI, NAIROBI, July 7 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga is expected to issue a statement in Parliament on Tuesday to explain issues surrounding the controversial sale of the Grand Regency hotel.

His Press Secretary Salim Lone said Monday that the Prime Minister (PM) would also respond to allegations levelled against him by Finance Minister Amos Kimunya.

Raila cancelled a press conference on Monday and avoided questions from journalists at the 51st Imamat celebrations of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in Muthaiga, Nairobi.

Addressing a public rally in his Kipipiri home turf on Sunday, Kimunya had insisted that Raila was well aware of the deal and had approved it.

The Finance Minister also claimed that the PM had promised to defend the sale in Parliament last Wednesday, but failed to turn up.

Kimunya has pleaded his innocence in the deal and insisted that he would only resign if an independent review committee implicated him of any wrongdoing. He has also pegged his resignation to that of the Prime Minister, Lands Minister James Orengo, Attorney General Amos Wako and Director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC), Aaron Ringera.

Raila had previously held that though he was informed of the hotel’s sale, he queried its legitimacy and took up the issue with the KACC.

Lands Minister James Orengo has in the meantime dismissed claims that he had demanded a Sh3 million bribe to allow the sale of the hotel.

Speaking in his Ugenya Constituency, Orengo threatened to sue Kimunya for defamation.

The embattled finance minister continued to be on the receiving end with the Attorney General Amos Wako insisting that the finance Minister and the Governor of Central Bank by-passed him in the deal contrary to a resolution of the bank’s board of governors.

Already parliament passed a motion of no confidence against the minister, demanding his resignation.